All tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

BY APRILL BRANDON

Many plays tackle important issues. The play "Dead White Males" tackles an important issue particularly in the state of Texas.

Focusing on the recent controversial decisions regarding curriculum by the Texas Board of Education, the show focuses on the teachers in the trenches trying to connect with their students amid all the arguments, policies and controversies, according to the website www.austinlivetheatre.com.

"At the end of the day, school should be about empowering our children - not subjecting them to the same, decades-old battle over what theory is right. But 'Dead White Males' is so poignant because, like all great plays, it focuses on how we deal with these issues as human beings," director Derek Kolluri said in a news release. "I know this play has an audience in Austin, Texas, which is exactly why we're doing it."

The play centers around three teachers, including the young Janet Greenberg who is dealing with her first evaluation by administrators. Just in time for the new school year, the play explores how hard it is for teachers to maintain their passion against today's turbulent education atmosphere, according to the website.

"Dead White Males" will run through Sept. 11 with performances at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday each week at Hideout Theatre in Austin. Tickets are $10 - $20 and can be reserved by calling 512-964-5685, and will also be available for walk-up purchase at 7 p.m. each performance night.